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LIBERTY PHIL 201 - PHIL201_Study_Guide_Lesson_8

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PHIL 201STUDY GUIDE: LESSON 8Free Will and DeterminismLesson OverviewIn this lesson, we examine our first metaphysical question: Does man really have free will or are his choices ultimately determined by factors outside of his control? Is it some combination of the2? Finally, what part does God play in this question? We will look at a number of responses to these questions and critique them.TasksView and take notes from the presentation, “Free Will and Determinism.”Read Chapter 2 of Metaphysics: Constructing a World View, “Freedom and Necessity.” As you do, make sure you understand the following points and questions:- Identify the preliminary problems and objections to free choice.The problem of freedom and necessity. Arises because of the conflict between our senseof freedom and the many reasons which seem to suggest that our actions are not free, but necessitated by God, by fate and by natural causes.Religious objections.Scientific considerations suggest our decisions are by no means as free as they seem.Belief that people are responsible for their own actions. Dangerous illusion.(pg. 31)- Explain the meanings of determinism and libertarianism.Determinism: The view that for every event which happens, there are previous events and circumstances which are its sufficient conditions or causes, so that, given those previous events and circumstances, it is impossible that the event should not occur. (pg. 32)Libertarianism: View that some humans actions are chosen and performed by the agent without there being any sufficient condition or cause of the action prior to the action itself. (pg. 32)- Know the meaning of compatibilism, its benefits, and its problems.Also called soft determinism holds that there is no logical inconsistency between free will and determinism, and that it is possible that human beings are free and responsible for their actions even though these actions are causally determined. (pg. 33)- What are 2 misconceptions of determinism?1. Determinists do not deny that people make choices. The experience of choosing is notany different whether a libertarian or determinist. It is in the interpretation.2. Our choices don't make any difference. "what will be will be" Whatever happens in inevitable. (pgs. 37-38)PHIL 201- Explain the arguments for determinism: psychological and scientific.Psychological: Our choices are governed by whatever, in the given situation, is our strongest motive.Scientific: A necessary presupposition of science. Claim that determinism is a "methodological assumption. (pg. 38-39)- List and explain Problem with determinism’s arguments.If success is possible in a certain field of science then there must be deterministic laws which hold true of the phenomena of that field. (pg. 41)- What is the misconception of libertarianism?It is not true that a libertarian conceives of a free CHOICE as a chance event. A free choice is a choice. (pg. 44)- Explain the following arguments for libertarianism: intuitive experience, morality, and rationality.Libertarianism: Intuitive Experience: The very experience of choice. A strong conviction that the various alternatives are indeed within our power-that there is nothing at all which prevents us from choosing one way or another. (pg. 45)Libertarianism: Morality: If all human actions are causally determined, then no one is ever morally responsible for any action.People are responsible for their actions, therefore, not all human action is causally determined. Conviction that we are responsible for our actions, whether we like it or not. (pg. 46)Libertarianism: Rationality: Rational thinking must be guided by rational insight in the light of principles of sound reasoning. One must "see" rationally, that the conclusion is justified by the evidence and one is helped to see this by principles of reasoning, laws of inductive & deductive logic, etc. One accepts the conclusion because one recognizes thatit is justified by the evidence. (pg. 47)- What are determinist’s responses to the moral and rational arguments?1. Claim that the argument confuses reasons for belief with causes of belief and to point out that a conclusion may be supported by reasons and without those reasons having caused acceptance of the belief.2. Point to the existence of computers to establish that a physically determined process can be rational. Computers are constructed by rational human beings. A computer is justan extension of rationality of its designers and users. (pg. 48-49)- Explain the meaning and problem of predestination/theological determinism.Problem of predestination: That God in his sovereign wisdom, effectively determines everything which takes place. Problem #1 is explaining how a person is responsible for his actions when he was unable to act otherwise. Problem #2 is explaining how God himself is NOT responsible for human wrongdoing. (pg. 51)Theological determinism: God has effectively determined everything that shall happen, and no creature has the power to act otherwise than God has decreed.(pg. 51)- What is the meaning and problem of divine foreknowledge?Foreknowledge - God does not determine our actions, but he nevertheless knows in advance exactly what we will do.Problem - Causes us to have no free will. (pg. 51-52)PHIL 201- Know various proposed solutions to the problem of foreknowledge.Doctrine of divine timelessness - God's existence is not everlasting; it is timeless, outsideof our time altogether. (pg. 53-55)- Explain the meaning of divine timelessness and its solution to the problem of foreknowledge.Divine timelessness - God's existence is not everlasting; it is timeless, outside of our timealtogether.Problem of foreknowledge - If God is timeless, it will not be literally true to say that God knows things BEFORE they happen, rather he knows them timelessly. (pg. 54)TermsMake sure you can explain the following terms and concepts:- DeterminismThe view that for every event which happens, there are previous events and circumstances which are its sufficient conditions or causes, so that, given those previous events and circumstances, it is impossible that the event should not occur.(pg. 32)- LibertarianismView that some humans actions are chosen and performed by the agent without there being any sufficient condition or cause of the action prior to the action itself.- Compatibilism/Soft-DeterminismHolds that there is no logical inconsistency between free will and determinism, and that it is possible that human beings are


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LIBERTY PHIL 201 - PHIL201_Study_Guide_Lesson_8

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